Image source, Rex Features

If you're going to become the competition's all-time leading try-scorer then you might as well do it in style!

Mitch Eadie made the hard yards before a pass is whipped out wide to Tom Varndell and he shows his experience, feet and finishing skills. 

Super work for his 91st try in Premiership Rugby. 

The hosts stray offside inside the 22 and it's an easy kick at goal for Ruaridh Jackson.  

Smart response from Northampton. They create space on the right wing, Ken Pisi dabs a kick into the 22 and Tom Homer's hashed clearance presents the visitors with a line-out 30 yards out. 

An inside ball to Pisi gets Bath retreating and they conceded a penalty in front of the posts that Stephen Myler nudges over.

Harlequins are caught short for not rolling away and Jason Woodwardgladly steps up to the mark and gets his side off the board. 

There's a nice loud roar from the crowd as a few nerves are settled after conceding that early try. 

Image source, Rex Features

An early moment to warm the home supporters' throats as Semesa Rokoduguni makes a break up the right-wing. 

Bath switch the play and create an overlap on the left but can't take advantage, in the end it's Rokoduguni's knock-on - albeit from a poor pass - that ends the move. Northampton win a scrum penalty.

Image source, .

After a minute's applause for South African legend Joost van der Westhuizen, whose funeral took place today, Stephen Myler gets the game underway at a bitterly cold Rec, with flakes of snow trying to fall. Northampton playing towards the Sports Centre end in the first half.

Image source, .

When these two sides met on the first day of the Premiership season it was a fairly dramatic affair - wonder if we'll get the same tonight?

Let's see as the teams are on the pitch and we're under way at Ashton Gate.

The BBC's local radio teams are in place at the three grounds, bobble hats on, coats zipped up to the max. 

Sale fly-half Dan Mugford was due to be with BBC Radio Manchester Sport's Nathan Middleton in the box at the AJ Bell Stadium, but his late call up to the Sharks replacements bench means Nathan is now on his own. Unless he can find a pal in the next few minutes.

In the West Country, Bristol hooker Ross McMillan is alongside BBC Radio Bristol's Damian Derrick at Ashton Gate.

At The Rec, Bath back row David Sisi joins BBC Somerset's Andrew Sheridan.

To tune in, click on your desired live commentary at the top of this page - we're moments away from kick-off in our two 19:45 games...

Newcastle have made significant changes on returning to league action after European and Anglo-Welsh Cup games.

Chris Harris and Sean Robinson are the only changes from the last Premiership game against Bath a month ago.

Replacements: Cooper, Harris, Wilson, Olmstead, Latu, Egerton, Delany, Waldouck.  

Sale have been forced into a last-minute change with fly-half AJ MacGinty ruled out with sickness. Sam James moves into the 10 shirt and Byron McGuigan comes in on the left wing.

Will Addison continues as captain in the absence of Josh Beaumont who has a shoulder injury as Rob Webber, Halani Aulika and Cameron Neild come in.

There's also a late switch on the replacements bench, Neil Briggs comes in for David Seymour.

Replacements: B Curry, Flynn, Longbottom, Nott, Briggs, Stringer, Leota, Mugford.  

Image source, Getty Images

The league break couldn't have come at a better time for Sale Sharks.

After 10 straight defeats in all competitions, Sale have won their last three matches including a 41-3 mauling of Cardiff Blues in the Anglo-Welsh Cup.

Newcastle have already picked up more Premiership victories this season than the whole of 2015-16.

These two sides kicked off the campaign in September - Falcons running out 19-17 winners.

So it appears several teams are in with a shout of making the Premiership play-offs this season.

It's hard to bet against Wasps or reigning champs Saracens making the top four - but which other two teams do you think will make the cut?

Let us know your top four or any thoughts as the action unfolds tonight using #bbcrugby on Twitter.

Northampton make two changes in their pack to the side that thumped Scarlets 50-10 in their final Anglo-Welsh Cup pool game.

Loose-head prop Alex Waller returns while Teimana Harrison comes in at flanker.

Hooker Charlie Clare, second-rower Api Ratuniyarawa, flanker Calum Clark and centre James Wilson all also back among the replacements as Northampton bid to win their fourth Premiership match in a row.

Replacements: Clare, E.Waller, Hill, Ratuniyarawa, Clark, Dickson, Hutchinson, Wilson.  

Bath are without England backs George Ford and Jonathan Joseph - plus Wales' Taulupe Faletau - through Six Nations duty, while fellow-internationals Anthony Watson and Luke Charteris are injured.    

Wing Semesa Rokoduguni is set for his 100th appearance and prop Nathan Catt returns to the team after being released by England.

Replacements: Batty, Obano, Palma-Newport, Denton, Mercer, Cook, Hastings, Davies.  

Three straight defeats by Wasps, Exeter and Newcastle Falcons before the domestic break saw the chasing pack close in on fourth-placed Bath.

A couple of thumping wins in the European Challenge Cup were followed by a draw against Gloucester in the Anglo-Welsh competition and a one-point defeat by the Falcons on Saturday, so it's difficult to know what form Todd Blackadder's men are in.

Image source, Getty Images

Tonight's opponents Northampton were in fine fettle before the break, beating Sale, Gloucester and Bristol and closed the gap to just five points behind fourth spot.

This really could go either way. 

Harlequins are without England quartet Mike Brown, Joe Marler, Jack Clifford and Danny Care who are on Six Nations duty for Saturday's match against Wales.

Full-back Aaron Morris is still recovering after suffering a concussion and is replaced by Ross Chisholm.

Tyler Gendall is among the replacements and could make his first Premiership appearance for Quins.

Replacements: Gray, Shields, Gendall, Reddish, Naoupu, Jones, Swiel, Alofa. 

Bristol make 15 changes from the Anglo-Welsh Cup side which lost at 35-7 at home to Exeter on Sunday.

Full-back Jason Woodward returns to the side along with Will Hurrell and captain Olly Robinson.

Winger Tom Vandell, who needs one more try to overtake Mark Cueto as the Premiership's leading try-scorer, is also back in the starting XV. 

Read more: I'd love the try record - Varndell

Replacements: Crumpton, O'Connell, Ford-Robinson, Sorenson, Lam, Mathewson, Palamo, Lemi.  

Image source, Getty Images

Bristol, who lost their first 10 Premiership games don't forget, could move off the foot of the table this evening by beating Quins.

Mark Tainton's side lost all four cup matches in the break, but face a Harlequins side who have not won on the road in the league this season.

Bristol will also want revenge having been defeated in the reverse fixture, 21-19, at the start of September.

Quins are beset by injury problems and international call ups, so let's see that all-important team news...